Walking accidents will injure millions of people each year, and thousands will die. Slip, trip and loss of balance accidents are the second highest cause of accidental death among the elderly. The effects of these types of accidents can be devastating, resulting in extreme changes in lifestyle and monetary losses to the victim. Most of these accidents are the outcome of some defect of a premises arising from the lack of proper maintenance.
Walking is an extremely complex task, when one tries to understand the mechanism of these accidents. Walking, in reality, is the process of locomotion in which the human body moves along supported first by one leg then by two and finally by the second leg. The accidents occur at the time when the body is supported by only one leg due to dynamic effects and the required reaction at contact point with ground.
The seminar covered: · The mechanics of walking, gait and balance · The difference between slip, trip and loss of balance · Understanding coefficient of friction · Effects of changes in friction, grade and contamination · Measuring friction · National standards of care · Walking area maintenance · Environmental issues · Falling in different environments, public facility issues · Conducting an investigation · Useful evidence to build or defend such cases
